Envelopes

ABSTRACT

An envelope formed from a blank of paper which can be easily opened by an automatic letter opener without damaging the contents of the envelope.

52 US. (:1 .229/75, 229/85 51 1111. c1. ..B65d 27/00 [58] Field ofSearch. ..229/75, 85,76

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 708,098 9/1902 Van Arsdale..229/75 United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,708,105

Kovac 1 51 Jan. 2, 1973 r 54 ENYELOPES l,098,l75 5/1914 Schnitzlen...229/85 7 [76] inventor: Sm: Kovac, Route 2, R0 Box 2,023,782 12/1935Dnver ..229/76 Mufldelein, 60060 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Filed!July 1971 481,765 2/1927 Germany .229/35 [21] Appl.No.: 161,522

Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant ExaminerStephen P. GarbeAttorney-Howard T. Markey et a].

[5 7] ABSTRACT An envelope formed from a blank of paper which can beeasily opened by an automatic letter opener without damaging thecontents of the envelope.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU M 2 1973 3.708, 105

sum 1 OF 2 K/m %ma PATENTEDJM 2191a 3.708 105 SHEET 2 BF 2 far/7M5.

ENVELOPES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with anenvelope made from a blank of paper which may be opened by automaticmail opener without damaging the contents. The envelope is provided witha projecting portion which is separated from the contents and may beslitted to open the envelope without damaging the contents.

An object of this invention is an envelope that may be opened by anautomatic mail opener and in which the contents of the envelope areprotected against damage by the cutting edge of the mail opener.

Another object is an envelope which may be safely opened by an automaticmail opener even though it is stuffed full.

Another object is an envelope which facilitates rapid opening of mail.

Another object is an envelope of the nature described which may befonned from a blank of paper.

Another object is an envelope designed for opening by an automatic mailmachine but which may be opened in a conventional manner if no automaticmail opening machine is available.

Other objects may be found in the cation, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more orless diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the back or rear of the envelope in itsassembled and sealed condition;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is'a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the envelope after anautomatic mail opener has made a cut therein; I

FIG. 4 isa view similar to FIG. 2.showing the envelope in an openedposition; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a blank for making the envelope of FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows an envelope 11 madein accordance with the teachings of this invention. The envelope is madefrom the blank 13 shown in FIG. 5 and when used holds contents such asthe sheet 15 shown in FIG. 2.

The blank 13 (FIG. 5) is preferably a single sheet of paper having agenerally rectangular portion 17 which forms the front or face of theenvelope. Formed integrally with the rectangular portion 17 are asealing flap 19, side flaps 21 and 23 and a bottom flap 25. When folded,the bottom flap cooperates with the side flaps 21 and 23 in the mannershown in FIG. 1 to form the rear wall or back 27 of the envelope. Thesealing flap l9 and side flaps 21 and 23 are connected to therectangular portion 17 along fold lines 31, 33 and 35 respectively.

The bottom flap 25 is connected to the rectangular portion 17 by fourside-by-side strips 41, 43, 45 and 47. Strip 41 connects to rectangularportion 17 along fold line 51. It connects to strip 43 along fold line53. Strip 43 connects to strip 45 along fold line 55. Strip 45 connectsto strip 47 along fold line 57. Strip 47 connects to the bottom flap 25along fold line 59.

Strips 41 and 47 are of the same width and eachiis covered on the sideshown in FIG. 5 with adhesive 61 and 63, respectively. The adhesive ispreferably a moisture and pressure actuated glue of the type commonlyused on envelopes. Strips 43 and 45 are also of the same width but arewider than strips 41 and 47.

Adhesive, also preferably a moisture and pressure actuated glue,isplaced in strips or bands 65, 67 and 69 on the sealing and side flaps19,21 and 23. It should be noted that the adhesive on the flaps isapplied to the opposite side of the blank 17 to which the adhesive6l, 63is applied.

The use, operation and function of this invention are as follows:

The blank 13 is assembled into an envelope 11 by folding the bottom flap25 about the fold line 55 and against the underside of the rectangularportion 17 of the blank as viewed in FIG. 5. This positions the strip 47next to the strip 41 and the strip 45 next to the strip 43. The stripsare then folded about the fold lines 57, 53 which are in alignment, toform a pleat in which the strips 43, 45 are in contact with each otherand the strips 41, 47 are in contact with each other. The folded stripsof the pleat are then folded over the bottom flap 25 in a manner inwhich the strip 47 and its adhesive 63 engage the bottom flap 25 and thestrip 43 engages the adhesive 61 on the strip 41 in the manner shown inFIG. 2. With the strips folded in this manner, a portion of the strips43,45 along their connecting fold line 55 will extend beyond theperiphery of the folded envelope in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The sideflaps 21,23 are then folded to overlie the bottom flap 25 and theiradhesive 67,69 connects these flaps to the bottom flap 25 to form theenvelope 11.

When contents, such as a paper 15, is placed in the envelope 11, it willseat short of the fold lines 51,59 due to the doubled flap formed at theend of the envelope. When the envelope is put in an automatic letteropener machine, a cut is made through the strips 43,45 along line 73 asshown in FIG. 3 to separate a portion 75 from these strips. This permitsremoval of the strips 41- and 43 which are fastened together by the glue61 thereby permitting entrance to the envelope to remove the paper 15 asshown in FIG. 4.

Whereas, the preferred form of the invention has been shown anddescribed it should be understood that there are many modifications,alterations and changes which may be made without departing from theteachings of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention shouldbe only limited by the claimsattached hereto.

Iclaim:

1. An envelope of generally rectangular shape formed from a sheet ofpaper,

said sheet of paper including a generally rectangular I portion formingthe front wall or face of the envelope, a sealing flap, side flaps and abottom flap attached to the edges of said rectangular portion,

said side flaps and bottom flap forming the rear wall said envelopebeing formed by folding said bottom flap and said side flaps over saidrectangular portion with said strips being folded and reversely foldedto form a pleat having inner and outer portions along the bottom edge ofthe envelope,

said inner portion of said pleat being formed of the strips adjoiningthe bottom flap and front wall,

said outer portion of said pleat being formed of the middle strips withsaid outer portion of said pleat extending beyond the periphery of thebottom edge of the envelope,

said inner portion of said pleat being secured to said envelope byadhesive connecting said bottom flap and said strip adjoining saidbottom flap,

said outer portion of said pleat being held to said inner portion ofsaid pleat by adhesive connecting said strips adjoining said front walland said middle strip located next to said strip adjoining said frontwall.

2. A blank for forming an envelope of the type which may be opened by anautomatic letter opener without damaging the contents contained therein,said blank including:

a generally rectangular portion forming the front wall or face of theenvelope, a sealing flap, side flaps and a bottom flap each attached tothe edges of said rectangular portion by fold lines,

four side by side strips joining said bottom flap to said rectangularportion with said strips separated by fold lines,

the strips adjoining the bottom flap and the rectangular portion beingequal in width and covered on one side with an adhesive,

the middle strips being equal in width but wider than said stripsadjacent said bottom flap and front wall,

adhesive formed on said sealing flap and said side flap on the oppositeside of said blank from the side having adhesive on said adjacentstrips.

1. An envelope of generally rectangular shape formed from a sheet ofpaper, said sheet of paper including a generally rectangular portionforming the front wall or face of the envelope, a sealing flap, sideflaps and a bottom flap attached to the edges of said rectangularportion, said side flaps and bottom flap forming the rear wall or backof the envelope, four side-by-side strips joining said bottom flap tosaid front wall and separated by fold lines, the strips adjoining thebottom flap and front wall being equal in width, and the remaining twostrips being equal in width but wider than said strips adjoining saidbottom flap and front wall, said envelope being formed by folding saidbottom flap and said side flaps over said rectangular portion with saidstrips being folded and reversely folded to form a pleat having innerand outer portions along the bottom edge of the envelope, said innerportion of said pleat being formed of the strips adjoining the bottomflap and front wall, said outer portion of said pleat being formed ofthe middle strips with said outer portion of said pleat extending beyondthe periphery of the bottom edge of the envelope, said inner portion ofsaid pleat being secured to said envelope by adhesive connecting saidbottom flap and said strip adjoining said bottom flap, said outerportion of said pleat being held to said inner portion of said pleat byadhesive connecting said strips adjoining said front wall and saidmiddle strip located next to said strip adjoining said front wall.
 2. Ablank for forming an envelope of the type which may be opened by anautomatic letter opener without damaging the contents contained therein,said blank including: a generally rectangular portion forming the frontwall or face of the envelope, a sealing flap, side flaps and a bOttomflap each attached to the edges of said rectangular portion by foldlines, four side by side strips joining said bottom flap to saidrectangular portion with said strips separated by fold lines, the stripsadjoining the bottom flap and the rectangular portion being equal inwidth and covered on one side with an adhesive, the middle strips beingequal in width but wider than said strips adjacent said bottom flap andfront wall, adhesive formed on said sealing flap and said side flap onthe opposite side of said blank from the side having adhesive on saidadjacent strips.